Latest news with #Lijo
New Indian Express
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Director Vinod AK Interview: Moonwalk will be a joyful ride for young and old
Initially, the team planned to cast familiar faces in the lead roles, to leverage star value. Vinod recalls, 'There were talks with a few established actors.' But soon, they realised those actors would have to fit into their unique way of working. The film demanded several days of orientation and training, especially because the dance style belonged to a particular era and was very different from today's cinematic choreography. 'We understood that busy actors wouldn't be able to dedicate that much time to a film like this,' Vinod explains. Meanwhile, the team was scouting fresh faces as an alternative. After discussions with the production team, Vinod got approval to move forward with newcomers based on his conviction. 'After seeing the film, I can't imagine anyone else in place of those wonderful newcomers,' he reflects. Apart from the fresh talent, only Srikant Murali and Veenah Naair appear as familiar faces. Vinod also shares a glimpse of an alternate idea. 'Initially, I even had thoughts of casting Ishaan Khatter for the Hindi version, which would have been a completely different approach.' For Moonwalk's dance choreography, Vinod turned to Sreejith, whose ties to the 80s dance scene in Kochi brought a layer of authenticity. 'Over time, we kept interacting, and I found out that he was actually part of a dance team in Kochi during the same era that the film is set in. He also knew about the subtle differences in the dance styles between dancers from Trivandrum and Kochi at that time.' Moonwalk received a major boost when acclaimed filmmaker Lijo Jose Pellissery came on board as presenter. Vinod reveals, 'There were a few issues holding the project back, and Lijo offered to take responsibility for sorting them out. That was an unexpected and much-appreciated helping hand. It was also his initiative to bring Listin Stephen on board as a co-producer.' Lijo's involvement was far from symbolic. His guidance, drawn from years of experience, gave the team the confidence to push their creative boundaries. 'I have experience making ad films, but working on a full-length feature is different. You often go with your gut feeling about what will work for the audience. Getting reassurance from someone of his stature on those instincts was deeply valuable,' Vinod says. Music, a pivotal thread in the fabric of the film, brought Vinod together with composer Prashant Pillai. 'Prashant was the first person I brought in as one of the technicians. He sent me some samples of the ideas he had been working on, and that's how it all started,' Vinod recounts. As Moonwalk is about to reach audiences, Vinod's hope remains simple yet sincere. 'Just come and enjoy,' he signs off with a smile.
Euronews
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Argentina's Senate rejects Milei's nominees to Supreme Court
ADVERTISEMENT Argentina's Senate has rejected two Supreme Court candidates that President Javier Milei nominated by decree, dealing a huge blow to the libertarian leader. The Senate voted down both candidates, federal judge Ariel Lijo and conservative legal scholar Manuel García-Mansilla, who were appointed by presidential decree during Congress's summer recess — an act that provoked accusations of executive overreach. Senators and human rights campaigners said Milei's move challenged institutional norms and risked upsetting the balance of power between Argentina's branches of government. "It's a serious institutional conflict that the executive branch has initiated against the legislative and judicial branches," said Senator Anabel Fernández Sagasti from the opposition Unión por la Patria bloc. "What we are discussing is an institutional assault." Milei's nominations came as part of his broader strategy to push through economic and state reforms, and analysts say he hoped to appoint justices who would rule favourably on challenges to his policies. His Libertad Avanza coalition holds just seven of the 72 Senate seats, leading the president to frequently govern by decree. Lijo, whose candidacy was previously rejected last year for lacking the required two-thirds majority, has been widely criticised by opposition and watchdog groups for his record on corruption cases. He has faced allegations of money laundering, stalling key judicial processes and misusing authority, all of which he denies. During Thursday's debate, centrist lawmaker Luis Juez called Lijo a hypnotist for allegedly putting certain cases to "sleep if it suits political powers". García-Mansilla, a law professor known for his socially conservative views, particularly on abortion, faced firm resistance from Peronist senators, who make up 45% of seats. In the final tally, Lijo received 43 votes against and 27 in favour, while García-Mansilla was rejected by a wider margin, with 51 votes against and only 21 in favour. In a statement issued late on Thursday, Milei's office condemned the outcome, accusing lawmakers of political bias. "The Senate has rejected nominations proposed by the president for purely political reasons and not for reasons of suitability," it read, adding that leaving the court short of two judges was equivalent to obstructing justice. The statement added that Milei would aim to "restore people's confidence in the institutions using all the tools that the constitution and popular vote placed in his hands". While the president's supporters condemned the result, others welcomed it as a victory for checks and balances. Related Argentina's Milei sparks row after appointing Supreme Court judges by decree Protests turn violent in Buenos Aires over Milei's economic reforms "Today the Argentine Senate put a stop to one of the most serious attacks on judicial independence since the country's return to democracy," said Juan Pappier, deputy Americas director at Human Rights Watch. ADVERTISEMENT "President Milei risked undermining some of the very basic checks and balances of Argentina's democratic system," he added.
Washington Post
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Washington Post
Argentine senate rejects President Milei's Supreme Court appointees in blow to libertarian leader
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentina's senate on Thursday rejected the two Supreme Court candidates that President Javier Milei nominated by decree earlier this year , dealing a major blow to the libertarian leader. The congressional defeat could complicate the implementation of Milei's radical state overhaul of Argentina, as analysts say the president had hoped to fill the Supreme Court vacancies with appointees who would rule favorably on challenges to his economic reforms. Milei in February bypassed Congress to appoint two controversial Supreme Court candidates, invoking a clause in Argentina's constitution that he said empowered him to fill the vacant seats during the legislature's summer recess. Politicians sharply criticized the move as an overreach of executive power, saying that a president has extremely limited authority to make judicial appointments during a congressional break. 'It's a serious institutional conflict that the executive branch has initiated against the legislative and judicial branches,' said Sen. Anabel Fernández Sagasti from Unión por la Patria party, the hardline opposition bloc. 'What we are discussing is an institutional assault.' Both of Milei's candidates — federal judge Ariel Lijo and conservative law professor Manuel García-Mansilla — had failed last year to secure the two-thirds majority required to confirm the candidates in the senate, where the president's libertarian coalition holds just seven of the 72 seats. Milei resorted to presidential decree to fill the two vacant seats on the five-judge court, testing the boundaries of his executive power as he has repeatedly done over the past year to overcome his minority in Congress. His nominees have provoked fierce debate across the political spectrum. Lijo has drawn criticism from anti-corruption watchdogs and opposition from centrist parties scandalized by allegations that he laundered money, abused judicial authority and stalled graft cases assigned to him in federal court. Lijo has denied the accusations. During the hours-long debate over the candidates on the senate floor Thursday, centrist lawmaker Luis Juez referred to Lijo by the name of a famous Argentine hypnotist, saying, 'I call him that because he'll put your judicial case to sleep if it suits political powers.' García-Mansilla has faced resistance from the left-leaning Peronist opposition movement, which holds 45% of seats in the senate, for his conservative stance on social issues like abortion. Milei has fiercely defended his candidates as worthy of serving on the nation's highest court and accused lawmakers of unfairly politicizing his nominations. In a statement late Thursday, Milei's office said it 'repudiated' the senate vote. 'The senate has rejected nominations proposed by the president for purely political reasons and not for reasons of suitability,' it said, arguing that leaving the two seats empty on the court constituted an effort to obstruct justice. It said Milei would seek to 'restore people's confidence in the institutions using all the tools that the constitution and popular vote have placed in his hands.' Others breathed a sigh of relief at what they saw as a sign of Argentina's democracy working. 'Today the Argentine Senate put a stop to one of the most serious attacks on judicial independence since the country's return to democracy,' said Juan Pappier, deputy director of the Americas at Human Rights Watch. 'President Milei risked undermining some the very basic checks and balances of Argentina's democratic system.'
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Argentine senate rejects President Milei's Supreme Court appointees in blow to libertarian leader
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina's senate on Thursday rejected the two Supreme Court candidates that President Javier Milei nominated by decree earlier this year, dealing a major blow to the libertarian leader. The congressional defeat could complicate the implementation of Milei's radical state overhaul of Argentina, as analysts say the president had hoped to fill the Supreme Court vacancies with appointees who would rule favorably on challenges to his economic reforms. Milei in February bypassed Congress to appoint two controversial Supreme Court candidates, invoking a clause in Argentina's constitution that he said empowered him to fill the vacant seats during the legislature's summer recess. Politicians sharply criticized the move as an overreach of executive power, saying that a president has extremely limited authority to make judicial appointments during a congressional break. 'It's a serious institutional conflict that the executive branch has initiated against the legislative and judicial branches,' said Sen. Anabel Fernández Sagasti from Unión por la Patria party, the hardline opposition bloc. 'What we are discussing is an institutional assault.' Both of Milei's candidates — federal judge Ariel Lijo and conservative law professor Manuel García-Mansilla — had failed last year to secure the two-thirds majority required to confirm the candidates in the senate, where the president's libertarian coalition holds just seven of the 72 seats. Milei resorted to presidential decree to fill the two vacant seats on the five-judge court, testing the boundaries of his executive power as he has repeatedly done over the past year to overcome his minority in Congress. His nominees have provoked fierce debate across the political spectrum. Lijo has drawn criticism from anti-corruption watchdogs and opposition from centrist parties scandalized by allegations that he laundered money, abused judicial authority and stalled graft cases assigned to him in federal court. Lijo has denied the accusations. During the hours-long debate over the candidates on the senate floor Thursday, centrist lawmaker Luis Juez referred to Lijo by the name of a famous Argentine hypnotist, saying, 'I call him that because he'll put your judicial case to sleep if it suits political powers." García-Mansilla has faced resistance from the left-leaning Peronist opposition movement, which holds 45% of seats in the senate, for his conservative stance on social issues like abortion. Milei has fiercely defended his candidates as worthy of serving on the nation's highest court and accused lawmakers of unfairly politicizing his nominations. In a statement late Thursday, Milei's office said it 'repudiated' the senate vote. 'The senate has rejected nominations proposed by the president for purely political reasons and not for reasons of suitability,' it said, arguing that leaving the two seats empty on the court constituted an effort to obstruct justice. It said Milei would seek to 'restore people's confidence in the institutions using all the tools that the constitution and popular vote have placed in his hands.' Others breathed a sigh of relief at what they saw as a sign of Argentina's democracy working. 'Today the Argentine Senate put a stop to one of the most serious attacks on judicial independence since the country's return to democracy," said Juan Pappier, deputy director of the Americas at Human Rights Watch. 'President Milei risked undermining some the very basic checks and balances of Argentina's democratic system.'
Associated Press
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Associated Press
Argentine senate rejects President Milei's Supreme Court appointees in blow to libertarian leader
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina's senate on Thursday rejected the two Supreme Court candidates that President Javier Milei nominated by decree earlier this year, dealing a major blow to the libertarian leader. The congressional defeat could complicate the implementation of Milei's radical state overhaul of Argentina, as analysts say the president had hoped to fill the Supreme Court vacancies with appointees who would rule favorably on challenges to his economic reforms. Milei in February bypassed Congress to appoint two controversial Supreme Court candidates, invoking a clause in Argentina's constitution that he said empowered him to fill the vacant seats during the legislature's summer recess. Politicians sharply criticized the move as an overreach of executive power, saying that a president has extremely limited authority to make judicial appointments during a congressional break. 'It's a serious institutional conflict that the executive branch has initiated against the legislative and judicial branches,' said Sen. Anabel Fernández Sagasti from Unión por la Patria party, the hardline opposition bloc. 'What we are discussing is an institutional assault.' Both of Milei's candidates — federal judge Ariel Lijo and conservative law professor Manuel García-Mansilla — had failed last year to secure the two-thirds majority required to confirm the candidates in the senate, where the president's libertarian coalition holds just seven of the 72 seats. Milei resorted to presidential decree to fill the two vacant seats on the five-judge court, testing the boundaries of his executive power as he has repeatedly done over the past year to overcome his minority in Congress. His nominees have provoked fierce debate across the political spectrum. Lijo has drawn criticism from anti-corruption watchdogs and opposition from centrist parties scandalized by allegations that he laundered money, abused judicial authority and stalled graft cases assigned to him in federal court. Lijo has denied the accusations. During the hours-long debate over the candidates on the senate floor Thursday, centrist lawmaker Luis Juez referred to Lijo by the name of a famous Argentine hypnotist, saying, 'I call him that because he'll put your judicial case to sleep if it suits political powers.' García-Mansilla has faced resistance from the left-leaning Peronist opposition movement, which holds 45% of seats in the senate, for his conservative stance on social issues like abortion. Milei has fiercely defended his candidates as worthy of serving on the nation's highest court and accused lawmakers of unfairly politicizing his nominations. In a statement late Thursday, Milei's office said it 'repudiated' the senate vote. 'The senate has rejected nominations proposed by the president for purely political reasons and not for reasons of suitability,' it said, arguing that leaving the two seats empty on the court constituted an effort to obstruct justice. It said Milei would seek to 'restore people's confidence in the institutions using all the tools that the constitution and popular vote have placed in his hands.' Others breathed a sigh of relief at what they saw as a sign of Argentina's democracy working. 'Today the Argentine Senate put a stop to one of the most serious attacks on judicial independence since the country's return to democracy,' said Juan Pappier, deputy director of the Americas at Human Rights Watch. 'President Milei risked undermining some the very basic checks and balances of Argentina's democratic system.'
